DEHRADUN, Sep 10 (Agencies): Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that the army too wanted peace and tranquility in Kashmir and was doing everything to secure it.

He was talking to media persons on the sidelines of an event in Uttarakhand’s capital Dehradun on Saturday noon.

In response to a query on Kashmir, Gen Rawat said, “We too want peace and tranquility in Kashmir and we are doing everything to secure it.” In the same breath he added that army was keeping its option open for surgical strikes.

Kashmir has been witnessing violent protests and clashes since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last year in July.

Responding to queries he also stated that neither China nor Pakistan is an imminent threat to the country in a departure from his earlier statement wherein he had dubbed the two neighbours India’s northern and western adversaries respectively and that the country needed to be prepared for a two-front war.

“None of the country (China or Pakistan) is a threat,” he said. “What I had said... said,” he went on to add when reminded of his previous remarks made a little over a week after India and China ended one of their worst military face-offs at Doklam at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction.

China had reacted to Rawat’s earlier remark, saying ties between the two countries should not be derailed.

Against the backdrop of Doklam standoff, the general said, army was extra vigilant at the borders and the security forces were taking appropriate action in the “sensitive areas.”

General Rawat was in Dehradun to attend annual function at Cambrian Hall, his alma mater.

The army chief, who hails from Pauri, studied at Dehradun’s Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM) till Class 2. Thereafter, he studied at Cambrian Hall between 1969 till 1972 and then did his senior schooling at St. Edward’s School, Shimla.

“I have spent my most memorable days in this school,” he said during the event, dressed in a navy-blue blazer with the school monogram engraved.

He also made special mention of his teacher Shanti Swaroop, who was school coordinator at that time.

Gen touched Swaroop’s feet as a mark of respect and love.

Later talking to reporters, general said the induction of 800 women in the military police, as was planned recently, would be a gradual process as the army “would not get so many women immediately.”

SRINAGAR, Sep 10: National Conference (NC) today demanded that government of India must unequivocally defend Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
According to the party, the demand was made during a meeting of NC delegation led by Omar Abdullah with union home minister Rajnath Singh.
While highlighting the political, historical and constitutional context of the state’s special status, Omar registered the party’s concern and disappointment over the central government’s ambiguity in defending th